Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($316,600 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,548)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Meridian by $18,586/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
76% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $18,586 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Home Value
$109k less
$316,600 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$18,586
$93,296 vs $74,710/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
76% lower
146.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 9 and Meridian wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Durham to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $425,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Meridian, ID are about 2,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.